Bangkok, Thailand ……..a floating market & a Golden Mount

November 3rd

Another fine breakfast and the day is clear and promising to be hot….

………….today we are taking a break from intensive temple duty and visiting a floating market. Bangkok was once known as the Venice of the East as people relied on the canals for transportation, and consequently goods and services would be sold directly from their boats. As well floating boat markets flourished in key areas of the city. The network of canals is now much diminished, as are true floating markets. However, there are some left and our innkeeper recommended Khlong Lat Mayom. It is supposed to be one of the most charming and authentic  markets and not totally beholden to the tourist trade. No walking there so within 1/2 hour our spotless taxi dropped us off in a parking lot and left to our own devices.The actual “floating” part of the market is rather modest (while the non-floating part is massive), and there are just a few vendors who mostly sell things like potted plants and flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables from their boats, although we also did see several restaurant boats.

 

 

This is a very popular market with Thais who flock here on weekends with their families for a solid nosh up. When we arrived it was just getting revved up so we got to walk around in relative solitude. We have seen some pretty wonderful markets especially in Europe, but this took the concept of food fair to a whole different level. everything is seemingly made from scratch and presented in an attractive manner. Yes we got excited ….as a certified foodie, I was so sad I had already consumed a full breakfast!!  Fish, fowl, meat, vegetables, sweet, sour > appetizer, main, dessert you name it, it was all there and simply but nicely “portion packaged “.

There are several zones and in each tables are set out with folks posting up with their purchases and consuming en famille.

A few pics below to give the reader a sense of this spectacle but unfortunately not to do it real justice…..you will have to see it for yourself…

 

 

 

 

One of the absolute best things to eat at Khlong Lat Mayom is pla pao (ปลาเผา) – Thai salt crusted grilled fish which was being grilled on some serious looking grilling stations and eagerly consumed by hungry Thais (snakehead in the pic below for you fishers out there)……sure looked good and a method to try on the BBQ at home…..

They also offer tours through the klongs (canals) and we opted for a 1.5 hour join-in tour > 200 THB (8CAD) for us both. Pretty low-key passing through neighborhoods, homes, gardens, small orchards, and businesses

… as well as stopping at a small village with a small temple….

…before returning to whence we came….

The market was now packed but never mind we couldn’t resist another round of treats consuming some Thai pork dumplings and these bad boys….

 

Even with it being a packed house it was a pretty calm and friendly market……no hard sell, no pushiness ….try walking around in central Lisbon at lunch time, you virtually have to swat the touts as they push menus in your face. Well all good things must end, so back into a taxi > metered, so no pricing issues but as to directions ….hmmm > map, sign language and GPS on Annie’s phone were all needed  …..got back in good order with smiles all around !!!

After a brief siesta we felt the need for one more temple, this one being about a 10 minute walk away...Wat Saket ‘The temple of the Golden Mount’, which is located outside the old Rattanakosin island area of Bangkok, is one of the city’s oldest temples. It’s structure is distinct because of the 80-meter high mountain, called Phu Khao Thong (meaning Golden Mountain), where the temple’s main gilded chedi (or stupa) rests. This “mountain”, was formed from the debris of a collapsed chedi commissioned to be built by King Rama III, once the highest point in all of Bangkok. 

A climb to the top of the mount is a journey of some 300 steps with some bizarre “chapels”, but the views were excellent…….

…….and as Bugs Bunny would say, “that’s all folks”…..tomorrow a new adventure awaits !!!